April 14, 2005
Dean Acosta/Bob Jacobs
Headquarters, Washington
(Phone: 202/358-1898/1600)
RELEASE: 05-096
MICHAEL GRIFFIN TAKES THE HELM AS NASA ADMINISTRATOR
Michael D. Griffin reported to work today as NASA's 11th
Administrator. Administrator Griffin becomes the leader of the agency
on the day the Expedition 11 crew is set to launch to the
International Space Station. The Administrator was confirmed late
Wednesday night by the U.S. Senate. An official swearing-in ceremony
will be scheduled later.
"I have great confidence in the team that will carry out our nation's
exciting, outward-focused, destination-oriented program," said
Griffin. "In the coming days, I'll be spending a good deal of my time
reviewing our progress toward returning the Space Shuttle safely to
flight. I will also be reviewing the activities of our mission
directorates and our various supporting functions. I share with the
agency a great sense of privilege that we have been given the
wonderful opportunity to extend humanity's reach throughout the solar
system."
During his confirmation hearing Tuesday before the U.S. Senate, the
Administrator stated his priorities, consistent with the President's
Vision for Space Exploration will be:
Fly the Space Shuttle as safely as possible until its retirement, not
later than 2010
Bring a new Crew Exploration Vehicle into service as soon as possible
after the Space Shuttle is retired
Develop a balanced overall program of science, exploration and
aeronautics at NASA, consistent with the redirection of the human
spaceflight program to focus on exploration
Complete the International Space Station in a manner consistent with
our international partner commitments and the needs of human
exploration
Encourage the pursuit of appropriate partnerships with the emerging
commercial space sector
Establish a lunar return program having the maximum possible utility
for later missions to Mars and other destinations
President George W. Bush nominated Griffin as NASA Administrator in
March, while he was serving as the Space Department Head at Johns
Hopkins University's Applied Physics Laboratory in Baltimore.
Griffin was President and Chief Operating Officer of In-Q-Tel, Inc.,
before joining Johns Hopkins in April 2004. He also served in several
positions within Orbital Sciences Corporation, Dulles, Va., including
Chief Executive Officer of Magellan Systems, Inc.
Earlier in his career, Administrator Griffin served as Chief Engineer
at NASA and as Deputy for Technology at the Strategic Defense
Initiative Organization. He has served as an adjunct professor at the
University of Maryland, Johns Hopkins University and George
Washington University.
He taught courses in spacecraft design, applied mathematics, guidance
and navigation, compressible flow, computational fluid dynamics,
spacecraft attitude control, astrodynamcis and introductory aerospace
engineering. He is the lead author of more than two dozen technical
papers, as well as the textbook, Space Vehicle Design.
A registered professional engineer in Maryland and California, the
Administrator is a fellow of the American Institute of Aeronautics
and Astronautics (AIAA). He is a recipient of the NASA Exceptional
Achievement Medal, the AIAA Space Systems Medal and the Department of
Defense Distinguished Public Service Medal, the highest award given
to a non-government employee. He is a certified flight instructor
with instrument and multiengine ratings
He received a bachelor's degree in Physics from Johns Hopkins
University; a master's degree in Aerospace Science from Catholic
University of America; a Ph.D. in Aerospace Engineering from the
University of Maryland; a master's degree in Electrical Engineering
from the University of Southern California; a master's degree in
Applied Physics from Johns Hopkins University; a master's degree in
Business Administration from Loyola College; and a master's degree in
Civil Engineering from George Washington University.
For more information about NASA and agency programs on the Internet,
visit:
http://www.nasa.gov
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